(Sao Paulo locations: Viaduto Santa Ifigenia, Rua da Consolacao, Praca ‘Rosa’ Roosevelt)
During my short stay in Sao Paulo I buddied up with Adriana. She lives in uber-central Republica in a cool 1940s apartment that’s barely changed since that era. We both admire vintage flavour.
I was her Couchsurf guest and boy, what a wonderful host she was. She teaches film and script writing at the local universade. The university is in the Japanese community quarter, Liberade.
The Sao Paulo sunshine was shining on me as Adriana agreed to be my camera woman for 2 days. The pair of us sauntered around the city talking over our favourite locations – her as a local and me as a visitor with my first impressions.
Adriana and me hanging about the city.
At the end of Sabado, although completely pooped we dragged our sorry bodies out into the night and bopped until the early hours at The Clock Rockabilly Club. I had an ball!
The Sao Paulo cityscape although gritty and tough was a feast for the imagination and we took loads of footage! So I’ve edited this wedge into 2 versions. Version 1 is above – version 2 is on it’s way!
The song – ‘Ask’, The Smiths, 1986
The Smiths are amazing – end of story. The melodies uplifting and the lyrics tell many a witty tale. This song is one of my favourites. The lyrics about Shyness resonated with me. As I pranced about, feeling awkward initially, receiving puzzled glances I felt that Morrissey was spurring me on! 🙂
Shyness is nice, and
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
You’d like to
Shyness is nice, and
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
You’d like to
So, if there’s something you’d like to try
If there’s something you’d like to try
Ask me – I won’t say ‘no’ – how could I?
Coyness is nice, and
Coyness can stop you
From saying all the things in
Life you’d like to
So, if there’s something you’d like to try
If there’s something you’d like to try
Ask me – I won’t say ‘no’ – how could I?
Spending warm Summer days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Because if it’s not Love
Then it’s the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb
That will bring us together
Nature is a language – can’t you read?
Nature is a language – can’t you read?
So… Ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Because if it’s not Love
Then it’s the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb
That will bring us together
If it’s not Love
Then it’s the Bomb
Then it’s the Bomb
That will bring us together
So…Ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Oh, la la la la laaaaaa la…!
The Dance Tourist 
Congrats for the video. Very uplifting indeed… and as the song says… in my case, shyness can stop me from doing something like dancing in the streets… good to know it didn’t stop you! keep going!
Thank you for your words of encouragement Claudio! Isn’t it a wonderful song?! I really enjoyed getting to know Sao Paulo and can’t wait to return. Perhaps when I do I might organise a ‘conga’ around the city in which case I’ll get in touch with you to take part 🙂 Muito prazer!
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